The graduate certificate in healthcare leadership (GCHCL) is designed for professionals looking to enhance their business expertise and advance their careers in healthcare administration. This program builds upon existing knowledge in business, finance or management, equipping students with the skills to effectively plan, direct and coordinate medical and health services.
Students in the Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) program can pursue the PT practice ownership track of the GCHCL. This track is designed for PT students interested in gaining leadership and management skills beneficial for owning and operating a private practice, working as a healthcare administrator, and/or interested in earning the Master of Health Administration following completion of the DPT program.
The curriculum can be completed within one academic year, with program entry available in both the fall and spring semesters. All credit hours are fully transferable to the Master of Health Administration and Master of Arts in aging studies programs. Students may pursue the certificate as non-degree-seeking professionals or concurrently with a graduate program, such as the Doctorate of Physical Therapy, Master of Arts in aging studies, or Master of Business Administration. The online GCHCL provides affordable, high-quality distance education with in-state tuition rates regardless of residency, enabling students to earn their graduate certificate from anywhere in the state or across the country.
Admission
To be admitted into the graduate certificate in healthcare leadership program, the applicant must:
- Be admitted to the Graduate School in a degree program or in nondegree Category A status. All Graduate School policies relative to admissions apply. International students will not be issued an I-20 for certificate programs alone. They may obtain this certificate only while concurrently pursuing a graduate degree.1
- Possess an undergraduate or graduate degree in health management, business, finance, clinical profession or related field.
- Have a minimum overall GPA of 2.750 (on a 4.000 scale) or a 2.750 in the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate coursework.
- Submit a personal goals essay of 250 words or less which clearly articulates the applicant's reason for seeking the graduate certificate in healthcare leadership.
- Submit a current resume.
Priority application deadlines: July 15 for fall admission; December 1 for spring admission.
- 1
Online only students (including international students) may complete the certificate without concurrent enrollment in a WSU graduate degree program.
Program Requirements
The GCHCL can be completed 100 percent online. It comprises 12 total credit hours; 9 required credit hours covering essential topics of healthcare finance, healthcare policy and administration, and healthcare leadership and operations management; plus 3 elective credit hours allowing specialization in human resources, healthcare law and ethics, healthcare informatics, rural healthcare, strategic planning and performance analytics, or quality in healthcare.
Classes completed in pursuit of the GCHCL can be applied to the graduate program of study for the Master of Health Administration (MHA). A student admitted to the Master of Health Administration can apply all 12 GCHCL credit hours to the MHA degree. Courses started more than 10 years before the semester in which the master's degree work is completed may not be used as part of the degree program.
The courses are offered on the following rotation:
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses (9 credit hours) | ||
| PHS 803 | Healthcare Finance (fall) | 3 |
| PHS 812 | Healthcare Policy and Administration (spring) | 3 |
| or NURS 801 | Health Policy | |
| PHS 815 | Healthcare Leadership and Operations Management (fall) | 3 |
| Elective Courses (3 credit hours) | ||
| Select one of the following | 3 | |
| Human Resource Management in Healthcare (spring) | ||
| Healthcare Law and Ethics (spring) | ||
| Healthcare Informatics (summer) | ||
| Rural Healthcare Leadership (spring) | ||
| Strategic Planning and Performance Analytics (spring) | ||
| Concepts of Quality in Healthcare (fall) | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |
Physical Therapy (PT) Practice Ownership Track
The PT practice ownership track is designed for students enrolled in the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program who are interested in gaining leadership and management skills beneficial for owning and operating a private practice, working as a healthcare administrator, and/or interested in earning the MHA following completion of their DPT program.
The PT track comprises 16-18 total credit hours; 9 required GCHCL credit hours covering essential topics of healthcare finance, healthcare policy and administration, and healthcare leadership and operations management; plus 6 credit hours of professional practice PT courses (also included in the DPT curriculum); and one elective course in owning a private practice, human resources, healthcare informatics, rural healthcare, strategic planning and performance analytics, or quality in healthcare.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses for the GCHCL (9 credit hours) | ||
| PHS 803 | Healthcare Finance (fall) | 3 |
| PHS 812 | Healthcare Policy and Administration (spring) | 3 |
| PHS 815 | Healthcare Leadership and Operations Management (fall) | 3 |
| Additional Required Courses for the PT Track (6 credit hours) | ||
| PT 708 | Introduction to Professional Practice I | 2 |
| PT 821 | Professional Practice I | 2 |
| PT 861 | Professional Practice II | 2 |
| Elective Course (1-3 credit hours) | ||
| Select one of the following | 1-3 | |
| Owning a Private Practice (1 credit hour) | ||
| Human Resource Management in Healthcare (spring) | ||
| Healthcare Informatics (summer) | ||
| Rural Healthcare Leadership (spring) | ||
| Strategic Planning and Performance Analytics (spring) | ||
| Concepts of Quality in Healthcare (fall) | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 16-18 | |
In addition to these requirements, students must meet the Graduate School’s requirements in order to earn this certificate.